FairBooking for businesses

FairBooking for destinations

Further queries

Please email info@fairbookinguk.com or telephone 01539 822222 and ask to speak to one of the FairBookingUK team.

How to join

What is FairBooking?

FairBooking is a campaign to encourage consumers to book direct with accommodation providers. The campaign aims to be less dependent on Online Travel Agents (OTAs), thus avoiding the high commission fees that businesses pay out to these channels.

We recognise OTAs play an important role in marketing holiday destinations to consumers. However encouraging visitors to book direct has to be preferable, as it saves on the marketing costs (commission fees) for local businesses and retains more revenue in the local economy, underpinning the sustainable tourism principles that we strive to achieve.

The FairBooking Pledge:

When businesses join FairBooking they agree to support the following key messages:

The best deal for you – our guest

A better deal for locals and the local destination

A better deal for local businesses – you the host

The “best deal for you” pledge to customers is delivered by the accommodation provider offering the same price as can be found online, with customers who book direct receiving added value extras such as:

Guarantee of the best room available in that category/upgrade where possible,

Complimentary breakfast or packed lunch,

Early or late check-in/check-out,

Flowers, chocolates, tea/coffee on arrival,

Vouchers towards a local service such as an attraction, restaurant, spa, leisure facility etc.

The “better deal for the local destination” involves the business donating a minimum contribution of 50p per direct booking* to a FairBookingUK approved good cause that relates to destination management. For example, this could be to an organisation that maintains or improves the destination, a rescue service or a voluntary group that supports an event that attract visitors.

The “better deal for the local businesses” is delivered by the saving made on commission fee costs and encouraging more bookings through lower level commission websites, websites that reinvest in the local economy, such as your destination organisation website, FairbookingUK.com, or affiliate sites and FairBooking Tourist Information Centres.

What will it cost?

There is no sign up cost to join FairBooking or to feature on the national website, www.fairbookinguk.com. However, any bookings you receive through the website will be subject to (the standard Guestlink) 10% commission (inc Vat) collected a month after the guest has stayed.

FairBookingUK Limited is a ‘not for profit’ organisation, fee income raised will be reinvested into the national website and on-line marketing and publicity for the movement. We are UK based so unlike many of the OTAs you have a guarantee that revenue remains in the country to further promote the ‘direct booking’ message.

What are the benefits for my business?

Web listing on the national site FairBookingUK.com

Publicity as part of the communication and PR campaigns

Use of the FairBooking logo

Use of the FairBooking marque and branding on your website and any marketing materials you use

Knowledge that you are behind a collaborative ethical nationwide campaign.

How to Join?

To participate in FairBookingUK, please complete the FairBookingUK application, including details of the good cause you would like to support and the amount you intend to donate per booking. You will be required to agree to abide by the terms of conditions relating to FairBookingUK.

Through your Tourist Board or local Destination Management Organisation

Currently Cumbria, New Forest, Cornwall and Wales are supporting the campaign at a destination level, if you are located in one of these destinations please contact your local Tourist Board (Destination Management Organisation) to sign up to the campaign – if you don’t have contact details please email info@fairbookinguk.com

Through Guestlink Affiliates

If you are outside of the destination partner’s areas, you can join now as an individual business through Guestlink by clicking here.

Other OptionsFor more information about Guestlink, which is free to use, please see how Guestlink works.

If you are using another booking system it is often possible to integrate with Guestlink. Find out more about Guestlink+ Connect.

If you are an organisation that would like to join as a Destination partner please click here for more information.